Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting
The presidential candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 poll, Atiku Abubakar and that of Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, have begun a talk to adopt a new political party ahead of the 2027 presidential election in the country.
Sources said that Abubakar and Obi met recently where they discussed plans to adopt a new political party in preparation of the 2027 elections.
Both men will meet again in Yola, Adamawa State, this Saturday, November 30, where Obi will be the keynote speaker at a ceremony in honour of the former vice president’s 78th birthday.
A spokesperson confirmed that the option of a merger remains on the table but did not provide specific details.
Recall that since their loss to President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2023 election, Atiku and Obi have been having conversations on an alliance and the Founder’s Day which Obi would attend this Saturday at American University of Nigeria (AUN) owned by Abubakar, was organised to show that the friendship between both men remains strong.
The talk of an alliance or merger between both men is also hinged on the fact that the PDP has been in a prolonged crisis from 2023 till date and the current national chairman of the party, Umar Damagum, is a loyalist of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike, who has staunchly opposed Abubakar’s presidential ambition and who openly supported Tinubu in the 2023 election. The situation in the Labour Party is no better as the national chairman, Julius Abure, has fallen out with Obi.
The report says that with election season expected to commence in just 13 months, discussions between Obi and Atiku are said to have entered an advanced stage and former governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State, is said to be part of the discussions.